Improvement in center-boards for vessels



l. GALL.

Center Boards for Vessels.

Patented September 9, 1873..

En STATES PATENT FFICE.

JAMES CALL, OF RICHMOND, MAINE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 142,677, datedSeptember 9,1873; application iiled July 26, 1873.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES CALL, oi' Richmond,in the county of Sagadahoc and State of Maine, have invented a new andvaluable Improvement in Center-Boards for Vessels; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe construction and operation of the same, reference being had to theannexed drawings making a part of this specification, and to the lettersand figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawings is a representation of a perspective view of mycenter-board. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same.

My invention relates to center-boards for vessels; and it consists inthe construction and novel arrangement of the horizontal flanges on eachside of the lower edge of the center board; of the oblique curved slotsthrough the center-board 5. the guard-plate, with its transverse pins,engaging with said slots; the pivoted arms and the tube for theoperatingrod, as hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings7 A represents the keel of a vessel; B, the vesselsbottom; C, the center-board. D D are pivoted arms connecting thecenter-board and keel. E is an iron guardglate attached by bent langesto the side of the keel, and forming therewith a slot, within which thecenter-board plays. F is atube running rom the bottom of the vessel tothe deck. G indicates an operatig-rod running through the tube andconnecting with the center-board by means of which the said center-boardmay be raised or lowered at pleasure. H represents base flangeshorizontally extending outward from each side of the bottom of thecenter-board at right angles therewith, showing, in cross-section, theform of an inverted T. I I are oblique-curved slots in the centerboard,through which pass the pins KK. These strengthen the iron plate on theside of the keel, and serve as bearings, upon which the center-boardrests when in its raised or depressed position. The curvature of theslots is opposed to the curve of direction of the center-board andtangential thereto, so that when the center-board is fully raised ordepressed it will remain in position.

It will be perceived that this invention may be applied to any vessel ofordinary construction with but little labor or expense, and withoutimpairing the strength or security of the vessel. Sometimes it ispreferred, instead of using a guard-plate, to slot the keel itself 5 orthe center-board may be double, embracing the keel. i

The protecting side plate E should, properly, be made of malleable iron.Its width and appropriate thickness will be proportioned to the 'size ofthe vessel to which it is to be applied.

The extremities of the plate E should be reenforced on the inner sidesof the iianges to strengthen the hold of the bolts passing through them,and also to govern the width of the slot proportioned to thecenter-board intended to move therein.

The horizontal iian ges on the lower edge of the center-board aredesigned to hold the Water to said board, and thereby to serve toprevent lateral deviation, keeping the vessel in a true course whilethey offer no obstacle to direct motion.

What I claim as-new, and desireto secure b lLetters Patent, is-

The T-shaped center-board C, having the oblique-curved slots I, incombination with the guide-pins K, pivoted arms I), and operating-rod G,substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the above I hereunto subscribe my name in thepresence of two witnesses.

JAMES CALL.

Witnesses:

J osEPH CALL, Jos. M. BLAGDEN.

